# US 9,039,008 B2 · Sheet processing apparatus and image forming system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,008 B2 - Document ID: US9039008B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/140,378 - Filed: 2013-12-24 - Published: 2014-06-26 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-26 - Assignees: Konica Minolta, Inc. - Applicants: Konica Minolta, Inc. - Inventors: Tsutomu Anezaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039008B2 ## CPC - B65H 9/00: Registering, e.g. orientating, articles; Devices therefor - B65H 31/34: Apparatus for squaring-up piled articles - B42C 1/12: Machines for both collating or gathering and permanently attaching together the sheets or signatures - B65H 9/06: Movable stops or gauges, e.g. rising and falling front stops {(B65H11/007 takes precedence)} - B65H 31/02: with stationary end support against which pile accumulates - B65H 31/20: adjustable for different article sizes - B65H 31/26: Auxiliary devices for retaining articles in the pile - B65H 31/3027: {by the nip between moving belts or rollers (pile being formed between belts or rollers B65H29/145)} - G03G 15/6541: {Binding sets of sheets, e.g. by stapling, glueing} - B65H 2301/42146: by introducing articles from above - B65H 2301/4227: Deforming piles, e.g. folding - B65H 2301/4229: cutting piles - B65H 2301/5126: Embossing, crimping or similar processes - B65H 2801/48: Bookbinding - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - B42C: BOOKBINDING (cutting or perforating machines, devices or tools B26; folding sheets or webs B31F; ornamenting books B44) - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A sheet processing apparatus, including: a stacking section; a first alignment section which aligns both end portions in a sheet conveyance direction of the sheet stacked in the stacking section; a second alignment section which aligns both end portions in a width direction, that is orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction, of the sheet aligned by the first alignment section; a sheet ejection section which ejects the sheet stacked in the stacking section outside the stacking section; and a control section which moves a pair of horizontal alignment plates away from the both end portions in the width direction of the sheet after operating a gripping section so as to grip the sheet in a state where the pair of horizontal alignment plates contacts the both end portions in the width direction of the sheet supported by a supporting section. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a stacking section in which at least one sheet of paper conveyed from upstream is stacked; a first alignment section which aligns both end portions of the at least one sheet in a sheet conveyance direction of the at least one sheet stacked in the stacking section, the sheet conveyance direction being a direction in which the at least one sheet is conveyed to the stacking section; a second alignment section which aligns both end portions of the at least one sheet in a width direction of the at least one sheet aligned by the first alignment section, the width direction being orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction; a sheet ejection section which ejects the at least one sheet stacked in the stacking section to outside of the stacking section; a gripping section which grips the at least one sheet at a central portion in the width direction of the at least one sheet supported by a supporting section; and a control section which controls to move a pair of horizontal alignment plates away from the both end portions of the at least one sheet in the width direction of the at least one sheet after operating the gripping section to grip the at least one sheet in a state in which the pair of horizontal alignment plates contact the both end portions of the at least one sheet in the width direction of the at least one sheet, while the at least one sheet is supported by the supporting section, wherein the first alignment section includes the supporting section which supports a downstream end portion of the at least one sheet in the sheet conveyance direction, wherein the second alignment section includes the pair of horizontal alignment plates which are provided at positions facing each other so as to sandwich, along the width direction, the at least one sheet supported by the supporting section, the pair of horizontal alignment plates being movable along the width direction to contact and move away from the both end portions of the at least one sheet in the width direction of the at least one sheet supported by the supporting section, and wherein the sheet ejection section includes a pair of conveyance rollers which convey the at least one sheet stacked in the stacking section to outside of the stacking section, and the control section controls to release a grip of the gripping section after the pair of conveyance rollers nips the at least one sheet which is gripped by the gripping section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sheet processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein a trimming unit which trims margins at the both end portions of the at least one sheet in the width direction of the at least one sheet having been conveyed is provided downstream of the sheet ejection section in a direction in which the at least one sheet is conveyed to the sheet ejection section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sheet processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gripping section is provided at a position facing a center of the pair of horizontal alignment plates in the width direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sheet processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gripping section comprises a plurality of gripping units provided at positions facing a central portion of the pair of horizontal alignment plates in the width direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An image forming system, comprising: an image forming apparatus; and the sheet processing apparatus of claim 1 which performs predetermined processing on the at least one sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 6 A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a stacking section in which at least one sheet of paper conveyed from upstream is stacked; a first alignment section which aligns both end portions of the at least one sheet in a sheet conveyance direction of the at least one sheet stacked in the stacking section, the sheet conveyance direction being a direction in which the at least one sheet is conveyed to the stacking section; a second alignment section which aligns both end portions of the at least one sheet in a width direction of the at least one sheet aligned by the first alignment section, the width direction being orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction; a sheet ejection section which ejects the at least one sheet stacked in the stacking section to outside of the stacking section; a gripping section which grips the at least one sheet at a central portion in the width direction of the at least one sheet supported by a supporting section; and a control section which controls to move a pair of horizontal alignment plates away from the both end portions of the at least one sheet in the width direction of the at least one sheet after operating the gripping section to grip the at least one sheet in a state in which the pair of horizontal alignment plates contact the both end portions of the at least one sheet in the width direction of the at least one sheet, while the at least one sheet is supported by the supporting section, wherein the first alignment section includes the supporting section which supports a downstream end portion of the at least one sheet in the sheet conveyance direction, wherein the second alignment section includes the pair of horizontal alignment plates which are provided at positions facing each other so as to sandwich, along the width direction, the at least one sheet supported by the supporting section, the pair of horizontal alignment plates being movable along the width direction to contact and move away from the both end portions of the at least one sheet in the width direction of the at least one sheet supported by the supporting section, and wherein the gripping section is provided in the first alignment section and grips the downstream end portion of the at least one sheet in the sheet conveyance direction.